MTV to Air Iraq Deployment of Real World Cast Member Ryan Conklin

MTV recently finished filming Real World Brooklyn cast member Ryan Conklin‘s deployment to Iraq.

This is all occurring as The Real World Cancun is currently airing on MTV and The Real World DC begins filming in Dupont Circle.

The special will air on MTV later this year as it follows Ryan through his mobilization, pre-deployment, and his actual deployment to Iraq in April according to ISRIA.

The recent filming of Army Spc. Ryan Conklin of the North Carolina National Guard Company B, 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team took place at the Joint Security State Saydiyah in Baghdad.

The filming wrapped as Iraqis took over the city patrols in Iraq as Ryan provided these observations from his Myspace post.

“It’s funny reading the news online from where we are about the troop pullout from Baghdad. I know several units have relocated but I wouldn’t dare say U.S. troops are out of Baghdad. I haven’t moved. There’s no sign of us moving. I’m in Baghdad as I type this. In fact, I can hear the hammers banging outside where the construction of new barracks is being erected.”

“Being back, I can see the changes. The Iraqi Army is more proactive, self sufficient, and experienced. The citizens have returned to jobs with steady income and the lure of setting IEDs for money has been shunned by several who succumbed for a paycheck. People are more cooperative in sharing information and leads that actually result in beneficial arrests. They talk about freedom and what it really is like because in the past six years they’ve witnessed all the stages of being repressed, broken, and back on track. Talking with locals on the past six years makes freedom almost tangible and for that, I am lucky to be a witness to it and be able to say I had a part in it.”

I wish Ryan safety for the remainder of his tour and as he concluded in his post, “pull the curtains on Iraq, and head back home as soon as we can.”